RESIDENTS have been urged to have their say on a traffic calming scheme which has split the Bewdley public.

People have been urged to attend an exhibition for measures on Habberley Road, Trimpley Lane and Kidderminster Road.

When Worcestershire County Council consulted the public about the proposals in August opinion was split.

However, in the same consultation about 70 per cent of people backed plans for traffic calming on the neighbouring Queensway Estate, which residents claim is plagued by "rat-run" motorists.

But people living in nearby Kidderminster Road fear they will experience a dramatic rise in traffic if it goes ahead.

They say drivers only use the estate to avoid the "no-right-turn" junction at Catchem's End, which sends town centre bound traffic past their houses to the bypass island and back, adding a quarter of a mile to journeys.

They fear deterring people from cutting through Queensway will exacerbate this problem.

Traffic regulation orders for measures for Queensway Estate roads: Shaw Hedge Road, Springhill Rise, Wassell Drive, Cordle Marsh Road and Queensway, will be published this month.

These will give the public the chance to have their say on more detailed plans for the measures before construction takes place.

However, the county council and consultant Halcrow are anxious residents have another chance to have their say about proposals for Habberley Road, Trimpley Lane and Kidderminster Road.

Measures such as road humps, speed cushions and platforms have been investigated in an effort to reduce traffic speeds and improve road safety.

There are also proposals for a 30 mph speed limit extended northwards beyond the entrance of the Ramada Hotel, Habberley Road.

The proposals will be on display at Wribbenhall Community Centre, Shaw Hedge Road, Bewdley, on Monday, January 20 from 5pm to 6pm.

A public meeting will be held from 6pm to 7pm.